2 AM was far too early to be awake, Wren decided. It was cold and dark and boring and exhausting and lonely. It was one of those times when you really wished you had someone to hug or just talk to, when in reality you didn't have anyone at all. It wasn't her fault she was awake so early, though. It was Scarlett's.

"Wren Emerson," Scarlett fumed. "Did you know that my sister is in the sixth year core center right now, sobbing?" Wren forced an eye open.

"Um, I'm sorry?" she tried. Scarlett obviously blamed her for Lola being upset, but she honestly didn't have the slightest idea why. She hadn't even spoken to Lola since the Quidditch list went up, and... Shit.

"Would it really be that hard to put her on the team?" Scarlett demanded. "I mean, I know she's not the best flyer ever, but she really wanted this! And she really likes you!"

Wren sighed. This was one of the difficulties of being friends with Scarlett. Because she had no interest in Quidditch whatsoever, she was never able to understand that it was more than just a silly pastime. It wasn't like you could just throw together anyone who could sit on a broomstick and play a good game. There had to be some strategy to it, even if that meant making hard decisions.

"Look, Scar, she just wasn't good enough," Wren said, not bothering to sugarcoat it. "And it's her first year trying out. She has to, you know, pay her dues first." Scarlett's eyes narrowed.

"What, like those British kids 'paid their dues' when they blew her up?"

"That's different."

"How? How is it different, Wren? Those guys came out of nowhere and you hate them. Lola's liked Quidditch for a long time and she's the sweetest kid-"

"The difference is they were good!" Wren finally exclaimed, throwing her hands in they air. "They didn't suck. And if I was putting together a team of the nicest people in this school, Lola would be first on my list, really. But that doesn't change the fact that she can't play Quidditch!"

"You just don't get it, do you? She idolizes you! You were supposed to look out for her-"

"I was supposed to look out for her?" Wren repeated incredulously. "You may have forgotten, but she's your sister! Why is it that every time Lola has a problem she comes to me, not you? Because you don't even talk to her! You've never even pretended to care until now! So you don't get to be mad that I didn't completely rearrange the team in order to make a spot for her."

By the time her little speech was over, Wren was breathing heavily. It wasn't fair that she was supposed to jeopardize her team to make room for a girl who couldn't even play. It wasn't fair that Scarlett blamed her for Lola sucking. It definitely wasn't fair that her two best players acted like Neanderthals.

"I just want to go to sleep," Wren requested. Without waiting for a response, she turned away from Scarlett to face the window. Even though they were underground, the school was enchanted to make all the windows echo the city above it.

"You're unbelievable," Scarlett said lowly. "I was the first one who even bothered to talk to you because you act like such a bitch, and you're calling me the cruel one? Well, you know what, Wren? Screw you. Screw you and your stupid little Quidditch game, screw you and your big bad girl act-"

"I get it Scarlett! Now, would you please just leave me alone?"

"Fine."

Wren listened to her former best friend's footsteps as she walked away. She'd always been glad that she and Scarlett had gotten a room all to themselves, but now she wasn't so sure. Would this be less awkward, less painful, if there were other people around to diffuse the tension? Or would they all side with Scarlett and leave Wren completely on her own? Scarlett did have a point when she said Wren could be a little bitchy, but she'd done the right thing. Right?

Did this mean that everyone else blamed her for taking Sirius and James? No, of course not. Harvey and Jeff had understood, and they were some of the nicest, fairest people she knew. They would make people understand, maybe even make Scarlett understand. They had to.


After a few more fitful hours of sleep and a very awkward confrontation with Scarlett that morning, Wren found herself in the dining hall, sitting completely alone. She knew Harvey would probably be coming soon, and he would bring some of his friends too, but that didn't change the fact that her best friend wasn't there.

"What's got you looking so down, Birdy?" The last person Wren wanted to see slid smoothly into the seat beside her, smirking.

"None of your business, Black," she growled. He feigned hurt.

"What, I can't show concern for my captain?" Wren curled her fingers into a fist.

"Look, I am so not in the mood to deal with you right now. So would you please just-"

"Is he bothering you, Birdy?"

"Prongs! I was wondering where you'd wandered off to!" Sirius grinned. Wren glowered at the table in front of her. Why couldn't they just leave her alone?

"What kind of nickname is Prongs?" she muttered under her breath. Sirius and James (thankfully) ignored her.

"You know, Birdy," James mused. "We were just so glad when we heard that you'd seen the light and decided to put us on the team after all."

"So we've decided to grace you with our presence this lovely morning!"

"I'd advise you to reconsider," she growled.

"But we need to bond! You know, so we can work together well on the pitch!" Sirius explained.

"Or we can wait until practice," Wren shot back. "Don't you have any friends to sit with?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Sirius retorted. Wren winced. He had a good point there, but then again, it was his fault her best friend had abandoned her. If he hadn't been so good at Quidditch...

"Sorry, would you mind if we sat here?" Wren looked up to see Remus and Peter. Her heart plummeted. She didn't really mind those two, but couldn't anyone see she wanted to be left alone?

"According to these two," she droned, gesturing to Sirius and James. "Whether I mind or not doesn't matter. So sure, go ahead."

"Thanks," Remus smiled, plopping down across from her. "We met when we first arrived, didn't we?" Wren tried to smile back.

"Yup. You had to save me from this one," she said, elbowing Sirius.

"Hey!" he whined. Wren ignored him, raising an eyebrow expectantly at Peter. They hadn't really been formally introduced, and she wasn't about to start a conversation.

"Um, I'm Peter, Peter Pettigrew." Wren nodded.

"Nice to meet you."

"Yeah, yeah, you too- And I'm sorry for, for laughing," he mumbled.

"What?" Wren furrowed her brow.

"At-at Quidditch try-outs," he explained. "You got angry at me for, for laughing." Wren still couldn't figure out what he was talking about.

"Wormtail, please put something in your mouth, other than your foot," Sirius sneered. Peter lowered his eyes, flushing. Wren couldn't help but feel a flicker of pity. This kid was obviously a bit of a dunce, and it didn't seem fair that his only friends teased him.

"Shut it, Black," she snarled. "Peter was trying to be nice, something you obviously wouldn't know about." She wasn't exactly sure why she was defending the bumbling boy, but he looked like he needed a friend.

"Whatever you say, Captain," Sirius said in a sing-song voice. Remus smirked subtly.

"It would seem that you've done the impossible, Birdy, and actually made Sirius Black listen," he laughed, only to be silenced by a look from Sirius.

"I listen!" he defended himself. "I just chose to disobey."

"Sure," Remus agreed complacently.

After a few more moments of listening to their banter, Wren tuned out of the conversation. She had more pressing things to think about than Black's listening abilities, one of them being how she was possibly going to tolerate him long enough to play Quidditch with him. He was abominably annoying and she was quite sure she'd rather make out with a dog than spend any more time with him than was necessary. Maybe Scarlett had been right. Maybe she'd ruined a friendship for nothing.

"Uh, Wren?" Harvey's curious tone pulled her out of her thoughts. He sent a questioning look towards James, Sirius, Remus and Peter, to which Wren only shrugged, as if to say she didn't know how they'd even gotten there.

"Who's this, Birdy?" Sirius asked obnoxiously. Remus knocked him over the head.

"Sirius, you idiot, we've met him. He's the Class Minister of Magic!"

"Oh. What's that again?" Sirius wondered, cocking his head to the left.

"It's a Muggle-type thing," Harvey explained helpfully. "Kind of like a class president." Somewhat awkwardly, he forced his chair between Wren and Sirius. Inexplicably, Sirius seemed incredibly amused by this, as did the rest of his friends. James, luckily, was able to keep on topic, though.

"Huh. We haven't got anything like that at Hogwarts. But I suppose some of us are just natural born leaders," James mused.

"If you're referring to yourself, Potter, let me just advise you that real leaders don't blow random people up," Wren said icily. "Those are dictators."

"Harsh," he replied.

"You deserved it," she informed him simply. "You know, funnily enough, sitting with you people has made me lose my appetite. So if you'll excuse me..." She stood up dramatically, pushing her tray of food away from her. "Shall we, Harvey?" she simpered in a fake posh accent. Before he could respond, she gripped his arm, forcibly dragging him away from the table.

"Everything okay?" he managed once they were out of earshot. Wren sighed heavily, leaning her head onto his shoulder. Normally, she didn't like getting into fuzzy-feeling talks with Harvey, but today she didn't have the energy to resist.

"No."

A/N: This is a pretty long chapter! What did you think? Do you like Scarlett or is she just annoying? You know the deal... Comment and favorite! Thanks for reading!

Oh, and by the way, I should probably say that I don't own anything but Veneficus Hall and it's inhabitants. The rest is J.K. Rowling's.

P.S. Did anyone get the dog pun?